Golf swing training device and related method of use

ABSTRACT

An apparatus used to improve a golfer&#39;s swing, which uses a golf club having a club head and a shaft, where the club head is attached to the bottom portion of the shaft. Fastened to the club head is a cradle having a curved upper portion and a curved lower portion that form a semi-circular recess. The semi-circular recess is capable of maintaining a golf ball. The invention further contemplates a method for improving a golfer&#39;s swing consisting of the steps of (a) placing a cradle onto the club head of a golf club; (b) fastening the cradle to the club head through a fastening means; (c) placing a golf ball within the semi-circular recess of the cradle; (d) taking a regular golf stance; (e) performing a standard swing; and (f) driving the golf ball out of the cradle.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The application seeks priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/166,457 entitled “Golf Club Swing Training Device and Method” filed on Apr. 3, 2009, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not applicable.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention is directed to a cradle fastened to the head of a golf club for improving a golfer's swing. The cradle is calibrated to sufficiently maintain a golf ball during the swing and allow the golf ball to be released on a predictable flight path during a precise window during a properly executed swing of the golf club.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The sport of golf remains a highly popular worldwide source of exercise and recreation for persons of all ages and skill levels. To become proficient in the game, it is necessary for the golfer to develop a precision swing so that he or she can accurately strike the ball with the golf club to propel the golf ball in the desired line of flight toward the hole.

Regardless of skill level or experience, golfers of all experience levels—from professional, to amateur, to novice—constantly work in improving their golf swings. Golf instruction represents a significant industry in the United States (as well as throughout the world). There are numerous media outlets directed specifically to golf training and instruction. For example, there is an entire television channel—aptly named “The Golf Channel” geared toward golf education. Likewise, much has been written over the years on developing a good golf swing. Numerous periodicals, including magazines and full-length books, are directed to the goal of improving a golfer's swing.

In addition to books and television instruction, golf enthusiasts are willing to pay a premium so that professional golf instructors can provide direction on an improved golf swing. Many of these instructors have become household pop-culture names such as Jack Grout, David Leadbetter, Butch Harmon and Hank Haney. Apart from individual instruction, golfers will often travel far and wide to attend golf academies in Florida, Arizona and California to hone their skills.

A number of inventions have been developed over the years for the purpose of assisting a golfer to develop a precision swing. At least four U.S. Patents disclose golf improvement apparatus—all of which teach use of complicated harnesses or limb guiding means intended to assist a golfer develop a precision golf swing. As shown, all of these focus on the pre-swing (including the back-swing) portion of the golfer's swing—rather than the release of the golf ball at the end of the swing.

As a first example, U.S. Pat. No. 2,773,691 to F. E. Redfield discuses a harness device for guiding the movement of the golfer's rear elbow during a golf back-swing. The device includes a belt adapted to encircle the waist of the golfer. A guide rail is also secured to the belt which provides a means for guiding a trolley member attached to an armband or loop member which encircles the rear of the arm of the golfer in the elbow region.

As a second example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,118,090 to L. E. Job teaches an arm restraining device for golfers that includes a body harness and a thong connected to the body harness as a point near the armpit of the right arm of a right-handed golfer and to an attachment adapted to be fitted to the hand or wrist of that arm, the length of the thong being such that when the golfer is addressing the golf ball, the elbow of that arm is maintained slightly bent. An objective of the trainer is to prevent the tendency during a golf swing to straighten the right elbow in an attempt to put more force into the stroke with the right hand on the down swing. The trainer prevents undue straightening of the right elbow without hindering the swing during the back-swing and down-swing portions of the golf stroke.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,750,052 to P. E. Arkin discloses a golf practice device that comprises an elastic member adapted to be attached to the forearm of a golfer so that the arm is held straight against bending during the back-swing and down-swing aspects of the golf swing. The golf practice device includes a flexible cord, including a clamp at each end thereof. The clamps are adapted to engage the cord at a position along the length in order to form a loop at each end of the cord. The first loop encircles the area of a golfer's shoulder, travels across the golfer's back, around the golfers' forearm, and to a second loop encircling the joint between the thumb and adjacent finger of the hand of the golfer's other arm.

Finally, U.S. Pat. No. 4,239,228 to Norman et. al. discloses a golf swing training device that includes an adjustable tether for joining the upper arms of a golfer to coordinate the relative motion of the arms of the golfer during the back-swing of the golf stroke. The arm-joining tether includes a first and second flexible strap that includes hook and pile fasteners to secure the straps around the arms of the golfer.

As shown above, the art of golf swing improvement devices is currently directed to complicated harness systems that focus primarily on the back-swing—instead of how the golfer makes contact with the golf ball. Accordingly, there is a need in the art of golf instruction for a non-harness based device that can be easily attached to a standard golf club which focuses on how the golfer makes contact with the golf ball. Moreover, there is a need in the art for a user-friendly device that concentrates on how the golf ball comes off the golf club during the swing.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The instant invention offers an alternative to the current harness based systems, and instead provides a device to improve a golfer's swing by focusing on the proper release of the golf ball rather than the back and down-swings. The preferred apparatus to accomplish this can be connected to a standard golf club having a shaft and a club head (which has a top side, a bottom side, and a club face). Fastened at the head of the golf club is a cradle having both a curved upper portion and a curved lower portion that both form a semi-circular recess. This semi-circular recess is calibrated to be a sufficient size and dimension to hold and maintain a standard size golf ball throughout the back-swing and down-swing to release the golf ball on a predictable flight path during a precise window during a properly executed swing.

There exists a variety of fastening means to affix the cradle to the head of the golf club. One embodiment includes having a flat portion attached to the cradle that rests upon the club of the head. In one embodiment, the flat portion includes a first clip and a second clip, where the first clip wraps around the top-side of the club head, while the second clip wraps around the bottom side of the club head. Both clips further include spring action fingers located at the distal ends of both clips to keep the flat member secured to the cradle during the golfer's swing.

The invention further contemplates an enhanced cradle that allows adjustment of the cradle diameter. This enhanced cradle is pliable to be properly calibrated to hold the ball with a specific amount of force, such that the golf ball will release during a properly executed swing at a precise widow during the swing. Various mechanisms are contemplated for proper calibration, including a tightening mechanism located at the back of the enhanced cradle to contract the center of the cradle—thereby reducing the diameter of the semi-circular recess of the enhanced cradle. An alternative system includes a series of cable strings to alter the outer diameter of the distal end of the enhanced cradle. By making the enhanced cradle's diameter smaller, the golfer ensures greater support of the cradle when launching the golf ball during the training swing. Decreasing the enhanced cradle's diameter requires the golfer to be more advanced and precise in his or her training swing. As yet another alternative embodiment, the club head and enhanced cradle (capable of being calibrated) are one single integral member placed at a distal end of the shaft of a golf club.

The invention is further directed to a method of improving a golfer's swing. The preferred method comprises the steps of placing the cradle on the face of the club head and then fastening the cradle to the head of the golf club through a fastening means. Preferably, the fastening means includes use of clips that are placed above and below the club head, as well as a series of spring action fingers that affix to the back of the club head. Next, a golf ball is placed within the semi-circular recess of the cradle. Finally, the golfer takes his or her regular golf stance, performs a standard back swing and down swing, and focuses on driving the golf ball out of the cradle through the guides afforded by the curved upper and lower portions of the cradle in the direction of the target.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side view of a prior art golf club having a shaft and a club head.

FIG. 2A is a side view of the preferred cradle.

FIG. 2B is a side view of the preferred cradle attached to the prior art golf club shown in FIG. 2A.

FIG. 3A is a front view of a prior art golf club having a shaft and a club head.

FIG. 3B is a front view of the golf club shown in FIG. 3A having a club head with a bore and a plate according to this invention.

FIG. 3C is a front view of the golf club in FIG. 3B including an attached cradle according to a first embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4 is a front view of a golf club with an enhanced cradle in accordance with a second embodiment of this invention.

FIG. 5 is a side view of the golf club of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a golf club in accordance with a third embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of the back of the apparatus shown in FIG. 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which preferred embodiments of the invention are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1-4, the invention is directed toward an apparatus 100 for improving a golfer's swing through focusing on the proper release of a golf ball 270 rather than a specific emphasis on the back-swing and down-swing. The invention does not use traditional harness devices so that the golfer can better replicate the feeling of the proper golf swing once the apparatus 100 is no longer in use and the golfer instead is using a traditional golf club shown in FIG. 1 (without the apparatus 100).

Accordingly, the key focus of the apparatus 100 (shown in FIG. 2A) is to release the golf ball 270 based upon a calibrated amount of force when the golfer performs a properly executed swing such that the golf ball 270 will exit the apparatus 100 on a predictable flight path. Put another way, the apparatus 100 focuses on the correct trajectory of the golf ball as it leaves the golf club. By engaging in a correct swing, the apparatus 100 and golf ball 270 effectively act as one object, with an initial “start-up” acceleration applied initially in the down swing. Upon performing a correct swing, an acceleration differential shall be achieved to cause an acceleration force on the golf ball 270 to enable an ideal release point. If force applied to the apparatus 100 during the down swing is too high, an early release may occur causing a poor launch angle often referred to as “over swing.” If the down swing force is not high enough, the golf ball 270 will not release from the apparatus 100. Through use of the apparatus 100, the golfer learns a correct range of force between 2 to 5 Newtons, with 3.3 Newtons being the preferred force. By understanding the correct feeling of the proper release, the golfer can then replicate a more consistent golf swing to provide more precision in his or her golf game.

As shown in FIG. 2B, the apparatus 100 includes (but is not necessarily limited to) a golf club 200, cradle 300 and a fastener 400. The invention also contemplates an enhanced apparatus 500 in which various attributes of the cradle 300 can be adjusted. In addition, the golf club 200 and cradle 300 can form one single integral device as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7.

The Club and Cradle

FIG. 1 illustrates a modern and commercially available prior art golf club 200. The golf club 200 includes a shaft 210 having an upper portion 220 (that includes a hand grip) and a lower portion 230. Attached to the lower portion 230 of the shaft 210 is a club head 240. The club head 240 has a flat club face 250 which has linear etchings 260 (shown in FIG. 3A below) to create traction when a golf ball 270 strikes the club face 250. It is preferable that the club head 240 is attached to the shaft 210 at an angle.

FIG. 2A illustrates a preferred embodiment of the cradle 300. The cradle 300 shown in FIG. 2A includes an upper curved surface 310 and a lower curved surface 320 that form a semi-circular recess 330. The semi-circular recess 330 is of a sufficient size and dimension as to secure and maintain a standard golf ball 370 (shown in FIG. 2B). Moreover, these curved surfaces 310 and 320 are shaped and configured in a manner which helps correctly guide the golf ball 270 off the club head 240 when released during a properly executed swing. The cradle 300 can be molded and/or manufactured from any lightweight and durable plastic, metal, or composite known to those of ordinary skill in the art.

The cradle 300 shown in FIG. 2A further comprises a flat member 350 dimensioned to fit across the club face 250 of the club head 240.

Fasteners

The flat member 350 is affixed to the club head 240 through a fastener 400. While the fastener 400 can take various forms, shapes and orientations, the fastener 400 shown in FIG. 2A includes a first clip 360 and a second clip 370. The first clip 360 is configured to wrap around the top of the club head 240, while the second clip 370 wraps around the bottom of the club head 240. Located at the distal end of the first clip 360 is an upper spring action finger 380. A lower spring action finger 390 is further located at the distal end of the second clip 360. Both fingers 380 and 390 place enough pressure on the back of the club head 240 to keep the flat member 350 taught and secured to the club face 250.

FIG. 2A illustrates an alternative fastener 400 through twisting a screw 395 through a hole drilled into the club head 240 and secured to a bore-through 365 located within the flat member 350. The bore-through 365 is placed essentially in the middle of the flat member 350. It is preferable that the bore-through 365 not penetrate the semi-circular recess 330 of the cradle 300. By placing the screw 395 into a drilled through portion of the club head 240, the screw 395 catches the bore-through 365 such that the flat member 350 can be tightened and secured to the club face 250.

A combination of multiple fasteners 400 are shown in FIG. 2B. More specifically, FIG. 2B shows use of multiple clips 360 and 370 in addition to use of a screw 395 connected to a bore-through 365 within the flat member 350. Use of these multiple fasteners 400 helps ensure that the cradle 300 does not slide or move during use. FIG. 2B further illustrates the assembled apparatus 100 where the cradle is attached to the golf club 200 through use of the two above-described fasteners 400.

FIGS. 3A-3C offer a third embodiment of the fastener 400. FIG. 3A affords a front view of a golf club 200 where the club head 240 is attached at the lower portion 230 of the shaft 210. As shown, the club head 240 includes a club face 250 that has linear etchings 260 to create traction with the golf ball 270.

FIG. 3B shows how the fastener 400 as a flat plate 600. More specifically, the flat plate 600 is placed between the cradle 300 and the club face 250. An adhesive 610 positioned between the club face 250 and flat plate 600 to help secure the cradle 300 to the golf club 200.

In addition, FIG. 3B shows the cradle 300 attached to the golf club 200 through use of adhesive 610 placed upon the flat plate 600. Here, the cradle has two distinct portions: an upper curved surface 310 and a lower curved surface 320. However, both surfaces 310 and 320 are not necessarily connected.

The Enhanced Cradle

The invention further contemplates an alternative embodiment using an enhanced cradle 500 that can be calibrated. FIG. 4 illustrates one embodiment of the enhanced cradle 500. By using a more adjustable enhanced cradle 500 compared to the aforementioned cradle 300, the golfer is able to regulate the size of the semi-circular recess 510 (i.e., changing the interior diameter), as well as the exact angle on the face 250 of the club head 240.

By making these changes to the angle of the enhanced cradle 500, the golfer is able to achieve a precision swing by preventing an improper trajectory of the golf ball. In addition, by decreasing the interior diameter of the semi-circular recess 510, the golfer makes it more difficult to release the golf ball 270 during the swing from the apparatus 100—thus progressing in his or her training regiment.

As shown in FIG. 4, this enhanced embodiment of the apparatus 100 includes a golf club 200, an enhanced cradle 500 that is highly adjustable to allow calibration, and a fastener 400 which connects the enhanced cradle 500 to the golf club 200. The enhanced cradle 500 is preferably hollow and includes an outer housing 520 and an inner housing 530. Both housings 520 and 530 connect at the back portion 540 of the enhanced cradle 510 as well as the distal end 550 farthest away from the club head 240. Moreover, the housings 520 and 530 should be aligned and made of a flexible and pliable material.

Placed between both housings 520 and 530 is a plurality of cable strings 560 which connect to the distal end 540 of the enhanced cradle 500. Likewise, these cable strings 560 are connected to a tightening mechanism 570 located proximate to the back portion 540. Through tightening the cable strings 560 through the tightening mechanism 570, the inner diameter of the distal end 540 of the enhanced cradle 500 is increased. Likewise, loosening the tightening mechanism 570 decreases the diameter. While the preferred embodiment uses a cable string 560 system to adjust the inner diameter any similar system known to those of ordinary skill in the art could be used.

As further shown in FIG. 5, the fastener 400 that connects the enhanced cradle 500 with the club head 240 is a screw 395. As previously discussed, the screw 395 can be placed through a drilled through portion of the club head 240. The end of the screw 395 can catch a bore-through 365 located at the back portion 540 of the enhanced cradle 500. Preferably, the screw 395 may act in concert with the tightening mechanism 570 to adjust the diameter of the enhanced cradle 500. Put another way, twisting the screw 395 can alter the interior diameter of the semi-circular recess 510.

In addition to changing the inner diameter of the semi-circular recess 510, the apparatus 100 is also capable of adjusting the angle of the enhanced cradle 500 through a bendable back portion 540.

Single Integral Club Head and Cradle

Another embodiment contemplated by the invention where the club head 240 and the enhanced cradle 500 forms a single integral member. FIGS. 6 and 7 offer perspective views of the single-piece club cradle 700. As shown in FIG. 6, the club cradle 700 includes an upper curved member 710 and a lower curved member 720 which form an essentially “C” shaped cup 730. Both curved members 710 and 720 have an essentially flat first side edge 701 and a flat second side edge 702. Located on the upper curved member 710 are two holding prongs 711 and 712. Likewise, positioned on the lower curved member 720 are two similar holding prongs 721 and 722.

These prongs (711, 712, 721 and 722) assist in holding and maintaining a golf ball 270 within the club cradle 700 during the swing. In addition, a circular ring 740 located in the “C” shaped cup 730 can further assist in holding the ball in a proper position.

FIG. 7 illustrates the means for properly calibrating the club cradle 700. As shown in FIG. 7, there is a rotatable knob 750 located in the back of the club cradle 700. By twisting the rotatable knob 750, the golfer can adjust the prongs (711, 712, 721 and 722) and or circular ring 740 of the “C” shaped cup 730. This helps alter how the club cradle 700 grips the golf ball 270. Calibrating the rotatable knob 750 will change when the golf ball 270 will release from the golf club 200 when the golfer is taking a proper training swing.

Preferred Method of Use

In addition to the apparatus described above, the invention is also directed towards a preferred method of improving a golfer's swing to create a more precision trajectory of the golf ball 270 which will now be described with reference to FIGS. 2B and 3C. The preferred method begins with positioning the cradle 300 on the head 250 of the golf club 240. Next, the golfer fastens the cradle 300 onto the head 250 through a fastening means 400.

The fastening means 400 can be any system known to one of ordinary skill in the art. However, it is preferred that the fastening means 400 includes a first clip 360 that is placed around the top of the club head 250 as well as the second clip 370 that is place around the bottom of the club head 250. In addition, the golfer next engages an upper spring action finger 380 located at the distal end of the first clip 360, as well as a lower spring action finger 390 located at the distal end of the second clip 370 to secure the cradle 300 to the back of the club head 250. By compressing both fingers 380 and 390 to the back of the club head 250, the cradle 300 is secured.

Once the cradle 300 is fastened to the club head 250, a golf ball 270 is placed within the semi-circular recess 330. The golfer then sets up in a regular stance, takes a normal back-swing and down-swing and then focuses on releasing the golf ball 270 from the cradle 300 through the aid of the upper curved surface 310 and lower curved surface 320 of the cradle 300. Both surfaces 310 and 320 help guide the golf ball 270 during the release and thereby teach the golfer the proper feel of a correct golf swing. If the golfer performs a correct golf swing, the shape and orientation of both surfaces 310 and 320 allow the golf ball 270 to be released from the cradle 300 at the correct point in time during the swing.

Alternatively, an enhanced cradle 500 is fastened to the head 240 of the golf club 200. While numerous fastening means can be used by one of ordinary skill in the art, it is preferred that the enhanced cradle 500 is fastened through placing a screw 395 through a drilled portion within the club head 240 which connects to a bore-through 365 located at the back portion 540 of the head 240.

Once the enhanced cradle 500 is fastened, it is properly adjusted to select the correct inner diameter of the semi-circular recess 510. This is accomplished through pulling and tightening (or in the alternative loosing and releasing) multiple cable strings 560 within the outer and inner housings 520 and 530 of the enhanced cradle 500. Once these strings are tightened, they are secured via a tightening mechanism 570 proximate to the back portion 540 of the enhanced cradle 500. In addition, the shape and dimension of the enhanced cradle 500 can be further calibrated through twisting of the screw 395 (either clockwise or counter-clockwise) to alter the semi-circular recess 510.

Once the enhanced cradle 500 is properly calibrated, a golf ball 270 is placed within the semi-circular recess 510. The golfer then sets up in a regular stance, takes a normal back-swing and down-swing and then focuses on releasing the golf ball 270 from the cradle 500 through the aide of the upper curved surface 310 and lower curved surface 320 of the enhanced cradle 500. Both surfaces 310 and 320 help guide the golf ball 270 during the release and thereby teach the golfer the proper feel of a correct golf swing. 

1. An apparatus to improve a golfer's swing, comprising: a golf club having a shaft and a club head with a top side and a bottom side with the club head having a club face; a cradle having a curved upper portion and a curved lower portion which forms a recess, the recess being of a sufficient size and dimension to hold and maintain a golf ball; and fastening means for affixing the cradle onto the club face of the golf club.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a flat portion attached to the cradle of a sufficient size and dimension to rest on the club head of the golf club.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein: the fastening means is attached to the flat portion and includes a first clip and a second clip; the first clip wraps around the top side of the club head and the second clip wraps around the bottom side of the club head.
 4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein: the distal end of the first clip includes an upper spring action finger, while the distal end of the second clip includes a lower spring action finger; and both the upper and lower spring action fingers contact a back side of the club head to keep the flat member taught to secure the cradle.
 5. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein: the fastening means includes a bore-through hole within the flat portion, a drilled hole within the club head of the golf club, and a screw of sufficient size and dimension to be placed within the drilled hole and secured to the bore-through of the flat portion.
 6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein: the cradle is hollow and includes an inner housing, an outer housing and a plurality of cable strings attached to the distal end of the cradle; said cable strings are attached to a tightening mechanism located proximate to the back portion of the cradle such that the cable strings can effectively alter the inner dimensions of the semi-circular recess.
 7. An apparatus to improve a golfer's swing, comprising: a shaft having an upper portion and a lower portion, the upper portion of the shaft including a hand grip; a club cradle attached to the lower portion of the shaft having an upper curved member, a lower curved member, a first side edge and a second side edge which form an essentially “C” shaped cup of sufficient size and dimension to hold and maintain a golf ball; and a calibration means.
 8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein: the upper curved member includes one or more prongs sufficient to hold and maintain the golf ball.
 9. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein: the lower curved member includes one or more holding prongs sufficient to hold and maintain the golf ball.
 10. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein: the essentially “C” shaped cup includes a circular ring to further hold and maintain the golf ball.
 11. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein: the calibration means includes a rotatable knob that can alter the dimension of the essentially “C” shaped cup.
 12. A method of improving a golfer's swing, comprising the steps of: (a) placing a cradle on a club head of a golf club; the cradle having a curved upper portion and a curved lower portion which forms a semi-circular recess, the semi-circular recess being of a sufficient size and dimension to hold and maintain a golf ball; and (b) fastening the cradle to the club head of a gold club through a fastening means; (c) placing a golf ball within the semi-circular recess of the cradle; (d) taking a regular golf stance; (e) performing a standard back swing and down swing; and (f) driving the golf ball out of the cradle.
 13. The method of claim 12, wherein: the cradle further includes a flat portion attached to the cradle of a sufficient size and dimension to rest on the club head of the golf club.
 14. The method of claim 13, wherein: the fastening means is attached to the flat portion and includes a first clip and a second clip; the first clip wraps around the top side of the club head and the second clip wraps around the bottom side of the club head.
 15. The method of claim 14, wherein: the distal end of the first clip includes an upper spring action finger, while the distal end of the second clip includes a lower spring action finger; and both the upper and lower spring action fingers contact a back side of the club head to keep the flat member taught to secure the cradle.
 16. The method of claim 13, wherein: the fastening means includes a bore-through hole within the flat portion, a drilled hole within the club head of the golf club, and a screw of sufficient size and dimension to be placed within the drill hole and secured to the bore-through of the flat portion. 